Enhanced remote key management for an enterprise in a cloud-based environment

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods are disclosed for facilitating remote key management services in a collaborative cloud-based environment. In one embodiment, the remote key management architecture and techniques described herein provide for local key encryption and automatic generation of a reason code associated with content access. The reason code is logged by a hardware security module which is monitored by a remote client device (e.g., an enterprise client) to control a second (remote) layer of key encryption. The remote client device provides client-side control and configurability of the second layer of key encryption.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/472,540, filed on Aug. 29, 2014, titled “ENHANCED REMOTE KEY MANAGEMENT FOR AN ENTERPRISE IN A CLOUD-BASED ENVIRONMENT”. The present application is also related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/056,899, filed on Oct. 17, 2013, titled “REMOTE KEY MANAGEMENT IN A CLOUD-BASED ENVIRONMENT”, which claims priority to and benefit from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/715,208, filed on Oct. 17, 2012, titled “ADAPTIVE ARCHITECTURES FOR ENCRYPTION KEY MANAGEMENT IN A CLOUD-BASED ENVIRONMENT”, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND

As electronic and digital content use in enterprise settings and/or other organizational settings has become the preferred mechanism for project, task, and work flow management, so has the need for streamlined collaboration and sharing of digital content and documents. In such collaboration environments, multiple users share, access, and otherwise perform actions or tasks on content and files in shared workspaces. This shared access and collaboration requires high availability of the data (e.g., an unfettered ability to download and upload files) as any number of users may have access to a file at any given time.

The collaboration environments can include features or mechanisms that add security mechanisms to the access of content and files in the shared workspaces. Unfortunately, these mechanisms do not provide variable client-level control of the security mechanism and thus a need exists for a system that overcomes the above problems, as well as one that provides additional benefits.

Overall, the examples herein of some prior or related systems and their associated limitations are intended to be illustrative and not exclusive. Other limitations of existing or prior systems will become apparent to those of skill in the art upon reading the following.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an example diagram of a system having a host server of a cloud service and/or cloud storage accounts with capabilities that facilitate remote key management services.

FIG. 2 depicts a diagram of a web-based or online collaboration platform deployed in an enterprise or other organizational setting for organizing work items and workspaces, as one example of a hosted cloud service and/or cloud storage accounts with capabilities that facilitate remote key management services.

FIG. 3 depicts an example diagram of a workspace in a cloud-based, online or web-based collaboration environment accessible by multiple collaborators through various devices authorized to access the work space.

FIG. 4A-FIG. 4C depict example data flow diagrams illustrating operation of components in a collaborative cloud-based environment for facilitating remote key management services responsive to an upload request and an access request, respectively.

FIG. 5 depicts a block diagram illustrating an example of components in a key service engine for facilitating remote key management services in a collaborative cloud-based environment.

FIG. 6 depicts a block diagram illustrating an example of components in a hardware security module (HSM) for facilitating remote key management services in a collaborative cloud-based environment.

FIG. 7 depicts a flow diagram illustrating an example process for facilitating remote key management services in a collaborative cloud-based environment responsive to an upload request.

FIG. 8 depicts a flow diagram illustrating an example process for facilitating remote key management services in a collaborative cloud-based environment responsive to an access request.

FIG. 9 depicts a diagrammatic representation of a machine in the example form of a computer system within which a set of instructions, for causing the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein, may be executed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description and drawings are illustrative and are not to be construed as limiting. Numerous specific details are described to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosure. However, in certain instances, well-known or conventional details are not described in order to avoid obscuring the description. References to one or an embodiment in the present disclosure can be, but not necessarily are, references to the same embodiment; and, such references mean at least one of the embodiments.

Reference in this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the disclosure. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, nor are separate or alternative embodiments mutually exclusive of other embodiments. Moreover, various features are described which may be exhibited by some embodiments and not by others. Similarly, various requirements are described which may be requirements for some embodiments but not other embodiments.

The terms used in this specification generally have their ordinary meanings in the art, within the context of the disclosure, and in the specific context where each term is used. Certain terms that are used to describe the disclosure are discussed below, or elsewhere in the specification, to provide additional guidance to the practitioner regarding the description of the disclosure. For convenience, certain terms may be highlighted, for example using italics and/or quotation marks. The use of highlighting has no influence on the scope and meaning of a term; the scope and meaning of a term is the same, in the same context, whether or not it is highlighted. It will be appreciated that same thing can be said in more than one way.

Consequently, alternative language and synonyms may be used for any one or more of the terms discussed herein, nor is any special significance to be placed upon whether or not a term is elaborated or discussed herein. Synonyms for certain terms are provided. A recital of one or more synonyms does not exclude the use of other synonyms. The use of examples anywhere in this specification including examples of any terms discussed herein is illustrative only, and is not intended to further limit the scope and meaning of the disclosure or of any exemplified term. Likewise, the disclosure is not limited to various embodiments given in this specification.

Without intent to limit the scope of the disclosure, examples of instruments, apparatus, methods and their related results according to the embodiments of the present disclosure are given below. Note that titles or subtitles may be used in the examples for convenience of a reader, which in no way should limit the scope of the disclosure. Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure pertains. In the case of conflict, the present document, including definitions will control.

Collaboration environments can include features or mechanisms that provide security through the use of data item (or file) encryption. The file encryption features can, for example, include encrypting an encryption key used that is used to encrypt a data or content item (e.g., a file). As discussed above, existing mechanisms that provide security through data encryption do not provide for client-side (e.g., enterprise-side) control and configurability.

Embodiments of the present disclosure include systems and methods for facilitating remote key management services in a collaborative cloud-based environment using a hardware security module (HSM). More specifically, the remote key management architecture and techniques described herein provide for local key encryption and automatic generation of audit log information. The audit information can include a reason code and/or metadata associated with content access. The reason code enumerates a user behavior performed on the data item in the collaborative cloud-based environment. The audit information is included in a secure key request to the HSM which logs the audit information for monitoring by an enterprise client.

At least some of the audit information is logged by the HSM and monitored by an enterprise (or remote) client to control a second (remote) layer of key encryption at the HSM. More specifically, the enterprise clients monitor access to keys stored at an HSM and can limit or kill access at any time if access inconsistencies are detected.

The HSM can be security hosted in a number of ways. For example, the HSM can be hosted by the cloud-based platform. In such cases, the HSM is logically separate from other components of the cloud-based platform but accessible to the components via key requests at the behest of a remote enterprise client. Alternatively or additionally, the HSM can be hosted by another distinct cloud-based platform such as, for example, Amazon AWS or by a managed services provider (MSP) such as, for example, Equinox Managed Services.

Additionally, in some embodiments, the enterprise (or remote) client can provide client-side control and configurability of the second layer of key encryption. In such cases, a key management engine and/or the HSM can provide the client-side control and configurability through the use of a rule engine that can process a generated access reason to determine whether or not to encrypt or decrypt (or request encryption or decryption of) a corresponding encryption key based, at least in part, on a set of pre-defined client-configurable rules. Additionally, in various embodiments a kill switch is provided to the client at the HSM and/or the key management engine for facilitating remote kill capabilities.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example diagram of a system having a host server 100 of a cloud service and/or cloud storage accounts with capabilities that facilitate remote key management services.

The client devices 102 can be any system and/or device, and/or any combination of devices/systems that is able to establish a connection, including wired, wireless, cellular connections with another device, a server and/or other systems such as host server 100 and/or notification server 150. Client devices 102 will typically include a display and/or other output functionalities to present information and data exchanged between among the devices 102 and/or the host server 100 and/or notification server 150.

For example, the client devices 102 can include mobile, hand held or portable devices or non-portable devices and can be any of, but not limited to, a server desktop, a desktop computer, a computer cluster, or portable devices including, a notebook, a laptop computer, a handheld computer, a palmtop computer, a mobile phone, a cell phone, a smart phone, a PDA, a Blackberry device, a Treo, a handheld tablet (e.g. an iPad, a Galaxy, Xoom Tablet, etc.), a tablet PC, a thin-client, a hand held console, a hand held gaming device or console, an iPhone, and/or any other portable, mobile, hand held devices, etc. running on any platform or any operating system (e.g., Mac-based OS (OS X, iOS, etc.), Windows-based OS (Windows Mobile, Windows 7, etc.), Android, Blackberry OS, Embedded Linux platforms, Palm OS, Symbian platform. In one embodiment, the client devices 102, host server 100, and app server 110 are coupled via a network 106. In some embodiments, the devices 102 and host server 100 may be directly connected to one another.

The input mechanism on client devices 102 can include touch screen keypad (including single touch, multi-touch, gesture sensing in 2D or 3D, etc.), a physical keypad, a mouse, a pointer, a track pad, motion detector (e.g., including 1-axis, 2-axis, 3-axis accelerometer, etc.), a light sensor, capacitance sensor, resistance sensor, temperature sensor, proximity sensor, a piezoelectric device, device orientation detector (e.g., electronic compass, tilt sensor, rotation sensor, gyroscope, accelerometer), or a combination or variation of the above.

Signals received or detected indicating user activity at client devices 102 through one or more of the above input mechanism, or others, can be used in the disclosed technology by various users or collaborators (e.g., collaborators 108) for accessing, through network 106, a web-based collaboration environment or online collaboration platform (e.g., hosted by the host server 100).

The collaboration platform or environment hosts workspaces with work items that one or more users can access (e.g., view, edit, update, revise, comment, download, preview, tag, or otherwise manipulate, etc.). A work item can generally include any type of digital or electronic content that can be viewed or accessed via an electronic device (e.g., device 102). The digital content can include .pdf files, .doc, slides (e.g., Powerpoint slides), images, audio files, multimedia content, web pages, blogs, etc. A workspace can generally refer to any grouping of a set of digital content in the collaboration platform. The grouping can be created, identified, or specified by a user or through other means. This user may be a creator user or administrative user, for example.

In general, a workspace can be associated with a set of users or collaborators (e.g., collaborators 108) which have access to the content included therein. The levels of access (e.g., based on permissions or rules) of each user or collaborator to access the content in a given workspace may be the same or may vary among the users. Each user may have their own set of access rights to every piece of content in the workspace, or each user may be different access rights to different pieces of content. Access rights may be specified by a user associated with a work space and/or a user who created/uploaded a particular piece of content to the workspace, or any other designated user or collaborator.

In general, the collaboration platform allows multiple users or collaborators to access or collaborate efforts on work items such each user can see, remotely, edits, revisions, comments, or annotations being made to specific work items through their own user devices. For example, a user can upload a document to a work space for other users to access (e.g., for viewing, editing, commenting, signing-off, or otherwise manipulating). The user can login to the online platform and upload the document (or any other type of work item) to an existing work space or to a new work space. The document can be shared with existing users or collaborators in a work space.

A diagrammatic illustration of the online collaboration environment and the relationships between workspaces and users/collaborators are illustrated with further reference to the example of FIG. 2. A diagrammatic illustration of a workspace having multiple work items with which collaborators can access through multiple devices is illustrated with further reference to the example of FIG. 3.

In one embodiment, client devices 102 communicate with the host server 100 and/or people search engine 150 over network 106. In general, network 106, over which the client devices 102, the host server 100, and/or people search engine 150 communicate, may be a cellular network, a telephonic network, an open network, such as the Internet, or a private network, such as an intranet and/or the extranet, or any combination thereof. For example, the Internet can provide file transfer, remote log in, email, news, RSS, cloud-based services, instant messaging, visual voicemail, push mail, VoIP, and other services through any known or convenient protocol, such as, but is not limited to the TCP/IP protocol, Open System Interconnections (OSI), FTP, UPnP, iSCSI, NSF, ISDN, PDH, RS-232, SDH, SONET, etc.

The network 106 can be any collection of distinct networks operating wholly or partially in conjunction to provide connectivity to the client devices 102 and the host server 100 and may appear as one or more networks to the serviced systems and devices. In one embodiment, communications to and from the client devices 102 can be achieved by, an open network, such as the Internet, or a private network, such as an intranet and/or the extranet. In one embodiment, communications can be achieved by a secure communications protocol, such as secure sockets layer (SSL), or transport layer security (TLS).

In addition, communications can be achieved via one or more networks, such as, but are not limited to, one or more of WiMax, a Local Area Network (LAN), Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), a Personal area network (PAN), a Campus area network (CAN), a Metropolitan area network (MAN), a Wide area network (WAN), a Wireless wide area network (WWAN), enabled with technologies such as, by way of example, Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Personal Communications Service (PCS), Digital Advanced Mobile Phone Service (D-Amps), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Fixed Wireless Data, 2G, 2.5G, 3G, 4G, IMT-Advanced, pre-4G, 3G LTE, 3GPP LTE, LTE Advanced, mobile WiMax, WiMax 2, WirelessMAN-Advanced networks, enhanced data rates for GSM evolution (EDGE), General packet radio service (GPRS), enhanced GPRS, iBurst, UMTS, HSPDA, HSUPA, HSPA, UMTS-TDD, 1×RTT, EV-DO, messaging protocols such as, TCP/IP, SMS, MMS, extensible messaging and presence protocol (XMPP), real time messaging protocol (RTMP), instant messaging and presence protocol (IMPP), instant messaging, USSD, IRC, or any other wireless data networks or messaging protocols.

In one embodiment, actions performed on work items or other activities that occur in a workspace can be detected in real time or in near real time. The host server can generate notifications or notification events for one or more of the plurality of activities and select one or more recipients for each notification. Various mechanisms or external messaging applications can then be used to notify users or collaborators, including through the web interface to access the collaboration platform, via email, and/or SMS, for example.

FIG. 2 depicts a diagram of a web-based or online collaboration platform deployed in an enterprise or other organizational setting 250 for organizing work items 215, 235, 255 and workspaces 205, 225, 245, as one example of a hosted cloud file sharing, collaboration service and/or cloud storage service with capabilities that facilitate remote key management services.

The web-based platform for collaborating on projects or jointly working on documents can be used by individual users and shared among collaborators. In addition, the collaboration platform can be deployed in an organized setting including but not limited to, a company (e.g., an enterprise setting), a department in a company, an academic institution, a department in an academic institution, a class or course setting, or any other types of organizations or organized setting.

When deployed in an organizational setting, multiple workspaces (e.g., workspace A-N) may be created to support different projects or a variety of work flows. Each workspace may have its own associate work items. For example, work space A 205 may be associated with work items 215, work space B 225 may be associated with work items 235, and work space N may be associated with work items 255. The work items 215, 235, and 255 may be unique to each work space but need not be. For example, a particular word document may be associated with only one work space (e.g., work space A 205) or it may be associated with multiple work spaces (e.g., Work space A 205 and work space B 225, etc.).

In general, each work space has a set of users or collaborators associated with it. For example, work space A 205 is associated with multiple users or collaborators 206. In some instances, work spaces deployed in an enterprise may be department specific. For example, work space B may be associated with department 210 and some users shown as example user A 208 and workspace N 245 may be associated with departments 212 and 216 and users shown as example user B 214.

Each user associated with a work space may generally access the work items associated with the work space. The level of access may depend on permissions associated with the specific work space, and/or with a specific work item. Permissions may be set for the work space or set individually on a per work item basis. For example, the creator of a work space (e.g., one of user A 208 who creates work space B) may set one permission setting applicable to all work items 235 for other associated users and/or users associated with the affiliate department 210, for example. Creator user A 208 may also set different permission settings for each work item, which may be the same for different users, or varying for different users.

In each work space A, B, . . . , N, when an action is performed on a work item by a given user or any other activity is detected in the work space, other users in the same work space may be notified (e.g., in real time or in near real time, or not in real time). Activities which trigger real time notifications can include, by way of example but not limitation, adding, deleting, or modifying collaborators in the work space, uploading, downloading, adding, deleting a work item in the work space, creating a discussion topic in the work space.

Specifically, items or content (content items) downloaded or edited in accordance with the techniques described in the present disclosure can cause notifications to be generated. Such notifications can be sent to relevant users to notify them of actions surrounding a download, an edit, a change, a modification, a new file, a conflicting version, an upload of an edited or modified file.

In one embodiment, in a user interface of the web-based collaboration platform where notifications are presented, users can, via the user interface, create action items (e.g., tasks) and delegate the action items to other users including collaborators pertaining to a work item 215, for example. The collaborators 206 may be in the same workspace A 205 or the user may include a newly invited collaborator. Similarly, in the same user interface where discussion topics can be created in a work space (e.g., work space A, B or N, etc.), actionable events on work items can be created and/or delegated/assigned to other users such as collaborators of a given work space 206 or other users. Through the same user interface, task status and updates from multiple users or collaborators can be indicated and reflected. In some instances, the users can perform the tasks (e.g., review or approve or reject, etc.) via the same user interface.

FIG. 3 depicts an example diagram of a workspace 302 in an online or web-based collaboration environment accessible by multiple collaborators 322 through various devices authorized to access the work space.

Each of users 316, 318, and 320 may individually use multiple different devices to access and/or manipulate work items 324 (e.g., content items) in the work space 302 with which they are associated with. For example users 316, 318, 320 may be collaborators on a project to which work items 324 are relevant. Since the work items 324 are hosted by the collaboration environment (e.g., a cloud-based environment), each user may access the work items 324 anytime, and from any physical location using any device (e.g., including devices they own or any shared/public/loaner device).

Work items to be edited or viewed may be accessed from the workspace 302 in accordance with the platform and/or application independent mechanisms. Users may also be notified of access, edit, modification, and/or upload related-actions performed on work items 324 by other users or any other types of activities detected in the work space 302. For example, if user 316 modifies a document, one or both of the other collaborators 318 and 320 can be notified of the modification in real time, or near real-time, or not in real time. The notifications can be sent through any of all of the devices associated with a given user, in various formats including, one or more of, email, SMS, or via a pop-up window in a user interface in which the user uses to access the collaboration platform. In the event of multiple notifications, each notification may be depicted preferentially (e.g., ordering in the user interface) based on user preferences and/or relevance to the user (e.g., implicit or explicit).

For example, a notification of a download, access, read, write, edit, or upload related activities may be presented in a feed stream among other notifications through a user interface on the user device according to relevancy to the user determined based on current or recent activity of the user in the web-based collaboration environment.

In one embodiment, a notification feed stream includes updates when an invited user accepts an invitation and/or successfully creates a new account through receipt of an invitation from an existing user. The invited user, upon creation of the new account, receives the account having enhanced features. The new user can automatically be connected to the existing user who sent the invitation. The system can also automatically prompt both users to query they wish to be collaborators in a common work space.

Work items hosted by a collaboration environment (e.g., a cloud-based collaboration environment) can be accessed by users (e.g., users 316, 318, and 320) via multiple different devices (e.g., devices 304-314) for viewing, editing, processing or performing other manipulations on work items. The devices can include applications for accessing a server hosting a cloud-based platform or service or other backend web services (hereinafter “cloud-based collaboration platform application”) and applications for viewing, editing, processing, or performing other manipulations on work items. The communication between such applications are generally facilitated by a communication mechanism of the OS. For example, in Android OS, the communication mechanism is based on “Intents”. As previously described, the underlying communication mechanism are generally insecure, and any data passed between applications are visible to all other application on a device.

FIGS. 4A-4C depict example data flow diagrams illustrating operation of components in a collaborative cloud-based environment 400 for facilitating remote key management services responsive to an upload request and an access request, respectively, according an embodiment. More specifically, the examples of FIG. 4A-4C illustrate a cloud-based platform configured to provide an enterprise client with remote key management services allowing the enterprise client to have direct control and monitoring capabilities over upload and/or access to data items (e.g., data files in the cloud-based platform).

As shown in the examples of FIGS. 4A-4C, the cloud-based platform includes a content interface 412, a content encryption/decryption engine 414, a key service engine 416, an HSM interface (I/F) engine 418, and a data store 415. The second cloud-based (or 3rd party) platform includes an HSM 420. The enterprise client includes a log monitoring engine 430. Additional or few components/modules/engines are possible at the cloud-based platform, the second cloud-based (or 3rd party) platform and/or the enterprise client.

Referring first to FIG. 4A, which illustrates operation of components in a collaborative cloud-based environment 400 for facilitating remote key management services responsive to an upload request, the cloud-based platform first receives a content request 401 at the content interface 412. The content interface 412 processes the content request 401 to determine that the request comprises a request to upload a data item 402. The content interface then passes data item 402 or an indication thereof to the content encryption/decryption engine 414. The content encryption/decryption engine 414 selects an encryption key 404 and encrypts the data item according to any of a variety of encryption methodologies using the selected encryption key 404 resulting in an encrypted data item 403.

The content encryption/decryption engine 414 then passes the encryption key to the key service engine 416. The encryption/decryption engine 414 can also pass the encrypted data item 403 to the data store 415. Alternatively or additionally, the encrypted data item 403 (or a handle thereto or indicator thereof) can be passed to the key service engine 416. The key service engine 416 can use the encrypted data item 403 (or handle or indicator thereof) to associate one or more key encryption keys with the encrypted data item 403. The one or more key encryption keys can be later associated with and/or otherwise stored with the encrypted data 403 in the data store 415.

Continuing with the example of FIG. 4A, the key service engine 416 selects a local key encryption key (KEK) and uses the local KEK to encrypt the encryption key 404 resulting in an encrypted encryption key. The local KEK may be, for example, selected randomly. The local KEK used to perform the encryption is noted and maintained by the system for later decryption purposes, if necessary.

The key service engine 416 also processes the content (upload) request 401 to identify audit log information such as, for example, metadata and a reason for the content request. The key service engine 416 also generates a code associated with the reason. By way of example and not limitation, the metadata can include: an Internet Protocol (IP) address initiating the request, a user identifier (ID) associated with the request, a file identifier (ID) associated with the request, etc. Other metadata is also possible. By way of example and not limitation, reasons can include: to fulfill an upload data item request, to fulfill a download or access data item request, to fulfill a maintenance request, to perform another action (e.g., to perform a text extraction request), to fulfill backend services (e.g., conversion), etc. Other reasons are also possible and, as discussed, each reason can be coded with reason code.

The key service engine 416 next generates a remote key request 405 and sends the request to the HSM I/F engine 418. The HSM I/F engine 418 initiates a secure key request 406 which includes at least some of the audit log information. As shown in the example of FIG. 4A, the secure key request 406 includes the encrypted encryption key, the generated reason code, and/or identified or generated metadata associated with the content request 401. The secure key request directs the HSM 420 to store the audit log information and sign the audit log information with a secure key. In various embodiments, the audit log information can be included in a free form block of the secure key request 406 to the HSM 420.

In various embodiments, the key service engine 416 and/or the HSM 420 can include a configurable rules processing engine that processes reason codes and/or identified or generated metadata associated with the content requests to determine whether to accept or reject the request based on one or more pre-configured rules. For example, the pre-configured rules can be generated to reject requests with particular reason codes, reject requests from particular IP addresses, reject particular users based on user ID, etc. The contents of an example key service engine 416 are shown and discussed in greater detail with reference to FIG. 5.

When the HSM 420 receives the secure key request 406, the HSM 420 selects a remote KEK and uses the remote KEK to encrypt the encrypted encryption key resulting in a twice encrypted key 408. The HSM 420 can then respond to the secure key request 406 with a secure key response 407. As illustrated, the secure key response 407 can include the twice encrypted key and the remote KEK. In another embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 4C, the secure key response 407 includes just the twice encrypted key. Alternatively or additionally, the remote KEK and/or the twice encrypted key can be stored at the HSM 420. The contents of an example HSM 420 are shown and discussed in greater detail with reference to FIG. 6.

The HSM I/F engine 418 receives the secure key response 407 from the HSM 420, parses the response to glean relevant information and passes a remote key response 408 to the key service engine 416.

The key service engine 416 subsequently directs the data store to store the twice encrypted key 408, the remote KEK, and the local KEK in data store 415. The twice encrypted key 408, the remote KEK, and the local KEK can be stored and/or otherwise associated with the corresponding encrypted data item 403 in the data store 415. Alternatively, if the remote KEK and/or twice encrypted key are stored remotely, information (e.g., IDs) with respect to the KEK and/or twice encrypted key may be associated with and/or stored with encrypted data item 403.

Referring next to FIG. 4B, which depicts another example data flow diagram illustrating operation of components in a collaborative cloud-based environment 400 for facilitating remote key management services responsive to an access request. The cloud-based platform first receives a content request 431 at the content interface 412. The content interface 412 processes the content request 431 to determine that the request comprises a request to access (e.g., download) a data item 445 and passes access request 433 on to the key service engine 416.

The key service engine 416 first determines whether the requested data item 445 is associated with remote key management functionality. For example, each data item can be associated with an enterprise and the key service engine 416 can identify the enterprise associated with the data item and determine if the enterprise has key management functionality. Alternatively or additionally, an enterprise or client can handle and/or otherwise manage keys on a case-by-case (or item-by-item) basis. In the example of FIG. 4B, the key service engine 416 determines that the requested data item 445 is associated with remote key management functionality.

The key service engine 416 then determines and/or otherwise identifies information associated with data item 445 and accesses and/or otherwise receives or retrieves the information from the data store 415. In the example of FIG. 4B, the information associated with the data item 445 includes a twice encrypted key 435, a remote KEK and a local KEK. As discussed above, in some embodiments, the remote KEK and/or the twice encrypted key may be stored remotely. The key service engine 416 next processes the content (access) request 431 to identify audit log information such as, for example, metadata and a reason for the content request. A code is generated that is associated with the reason. The key service engine 416 then generates a remote key request 435 including the audit log information (e.g., the twice encrypted key, the reason code, the metadata, and/or the remote KEK) and sends the request to the HSM I/F engine 418. The contents of an example key service engine 416 are shown and discussed in greater detail with reference to FIG. 5.

The HSM I/F engine 418 initiates a secure key request 437 which includes at least some of the audit log information. As shown in the example of FIG. 4B, the secure key request 437 includes the twice encrypted encryption key, the generated reason code, the remote KEK, and/or identified or generated metadata associated with the content request 431. The secure key request directs the HSM 420 to store the audit log information and sign the audit log information with a secure key. In various embodiments, the audit log information can be included in a free form block of the secure key request 437 to the HSM 420.

As discussed above, the key service engine 416 and/or the HSM 420 can include a configurable rules processing engine that processes the remote key request including the twice encrypted encryption key, the generated reason code, identified or generated metadata associated with the content request, and/or the remote KEK. The remote key service engine 416 processes the reason code and/or the metadata to determine whether to accept or reject the request based on one or more pre-configured rules. As discussed above, rules can be generated to reject requests with particular reason codes, reject requests from particular IP addresses, reject particular users based on user ID, etc. The contents of an example key service engine 416 are shown and discussed in greater detail with reference to FIG. 5.

When the HSM 420 receives the secure key request 437, the HSM 420 decrypts the twice encrypted key using the remote KEK and provides the once encrypted key 439 back to the HSM I/F Engine 418 which parses the response and passes a remote key response 440 on to the key service engine 416. The key service engine 416 receives the once encrypted key and decrypts the once encrypted key using the local KEK resulting in the encryption key 441. The key service engine 416 then provides the encryption key 441 to the content encryption/decryption engine 414 to decrypt the encrypted data item 443 resulting in the data item 445. The content encryption/decryption engine 414 provides the data item 445 to the content interface 412 which, in turn, responds to the content request 431 with the data item 445. As discussed, the contents of an example HSM 420 are shown and discussed in greater detail with reference to FIG. 6.

FIG. 5 depicts a block diagram illustrating an example of components in a key service engine 500 for facilitating remote key management services in a collaborative cloud-based environment. The key service engine 500 can be the key service engine 416 of FIGS. 4A-4C, although alternative configurations are possible.

The key service engine 500 can be part of a web-based or online collaboration environment which can generally be a cloud-based service. The key service engine 500 can include, for example, a request interface 505, a key service proxy 510, a key encryption/decryption engine 515, a reason generation engine 520, a metadata engine 525, a rule configuration engine 540, a rule processing engine 535, and an HSM interface 530. Additional or fewer components/modules/engines can be included in the key service engine 500 and/or each illustrated component. Further, although illustrated as included as part of the key service engine 500, the components/modules/engines can be physically and/or functionally distributed.

The request interface 505 can be configured to communicate with other components of the cloud-based platform. Similarly, the HSM interface 530 can be configured to communicate with components of a remote client device (e.g., enterprise client computers or devices).

The request interface 505 and/or the HSM interface 530 can be networking modules that enables key service engine 500 to mediate data in a network with entities that are external to key service engine 500, through any known and/or convenient communications protocol supported by the host and the external entity. For example, the request interface 505 and/or the HSM interface 530 can be a network interface that can include one or more of a network adaptor card, a wireless network interface card (e.g., SMS interface, WiFi interface, interfaces for various generations of mobile communication standards including but not limited to 1G, 2G, 3G, 3.5G, 4G, LTE, etc.), Bluetooth, a router, an access point, a wireless router, a switch, a multilayer switch, a protocol converter, a gateway, a bridge, bridge router, a hub, a digital media receiver, and/or a repeater.

As used herein, a “module,” “a manager,” a “handler,” a “detector,” an “interface,” or an “engine” includes a general purpose, dedicated or shared processor and, typically, firmware or software modules that are executed by the processor. Depending upon implementation-specific or other considerations, the module, manager, hander, or engine can be centralized or its functionality distributed. The module, manager, hander, or engine can include general or special purpose hardware, firmware, or software embodied in a computer-readable (storage) medium for execution by the processor. As used herein, a computer-readable medium or computer-readable storage medium is intended to include all mediums that are statutory (e.g., in the United States, under 35 U.S.C. 101), and to specifically exclude all mediums that are non-statutory in nature to the extent that the exclusion is necessary for a claim that includes the computer-readable (storage) medium to be valid. Known statutory computer-readable mediums include hardware (e.g., registers, random access memory (RAM), non-volatile (NV) storage, to name a few), but may or may not be limited to hardware.

One embodiment of the key service engine 500 includes the key service proxy 510 which can comprise any device configured to initiate a remote key request responsive to a determination that a data item indicated by a content request is associated with remote key management functionality.

One embodiment of the key service engine 500 includes the key encryption/decryption engine 515 which can provide a first layer of encryption and decryption for an encryption key. During upload requests, as described in FIG. 4A, the key encryption/decryption engine 515 encrypts an encryption key that is selected and used to encrypt the received data item. For example, the key encryption/decryption engine 515 can select a key encryption key to encrypt the encryption key. In one embodiment, the key encryption key is selected randomly, however, the key encryption key may be selected in other manners. Once encryption of the key is complete, the key service engine 500 can store the key encryption key (KEK) in a data store. In one or more embodiments, the KEKs transferred by the components described herein may be key encryption key identifiers (IDs).

During access (or download) requests, as described in FIG. 4B, the key encryption/decryption engine 515 can access a key encryption key from a data store (or memory) and use the key encryption key to decrypt a once encrypted key received responsive to a remote key request to decrypt a twice encrypted key.

One embodiment of the key service engine 500 includes the reason generation engine 520 which can process the content request to identify the reason associated with the content request and responsively generate the corresponding reason code. As discussed above, the reason code enumerates a user behavior performed on the data item in the collaborative cloud-based environment. The audit information is included in a secure key request to the HSM which logs the audit information for monitoring by an enterprise client.

One embodiment of the key service engine 500 includes the metadata engine 525 which can process the received content request to identify metadata associated with the content request. In one embodiment, the remote key request can include the metadata.

One embodiment of the key service engine 500 includes an optional rule configuration engine 540 which can facilitate client configuration of rules. For example, rules can be generated to reject requests with particular reason codes, reject requests from particular IP addresses, reject particular users based on user ID, etc.

One embodiment of the key service engine 500 includes an optional rule processing engine 535 which can process requests including the encrypted encryption key, the generated reason code, and/or identified or generated metadata associated with the content request and processes the reason code and/or the metadata to determines whether to accept or reject the request based on one or more pre-configured rules. For example, rules can be generated to reject requests with particular reason codes, reject requests from particular IP addresses, reject particular users based on user ID, etc.

One embodiment of the key service engine 500 includes the HSM interface 530 which generates the secure requests that direct the HSM, e.g., HSM 420 of FIG. 4, to store the audit log information and sign the audit log information with a secure key. As discussed, in various embodiments, the audit log information can be included in a free form block of the secure key request to the HSM.

FIG. 6 depicts a block diagram illustrating an example of components in an HSM 600 for facilitating remote key management services in a collaborative cloud-based environment. The HSM 600 can be the HSM 420 of FIGS. 4A-4C, although alternative configurations are possible.

The HSM 600 can be any physical computing device that safeguards and manages keys. In various embodiments, the HSM 600 can comprise a plug-in card or an external device that attaches directly to a computer or network server. The HSM 600 can be security hosted in a number of ways. For example, the HSM 600 can be hosted by the primary cloud-based platform (i.e., the cloud-based platform on which the key service engine resides). In such cases, the HSM 600 is logically separate from other components of the cloud-based platform but accessible to the components via key requests at the behest of a remote enterprise client. Alternatively or additionally, the HSM 600 can be hosted by another distinct cloud-based platform such as, for example, Amazon AWS or by a managed services provider (MSP) such as, for example, Equinox Managed Services.

In various embodiments, the HSM 600 can be part of a web-based or online collaboration environment which can generally be a cloud-based service. The HSM 600 can include, for example, a key service interface 605, a key encryption/decryption engine 610, kill circuitry 615, a key store 620, an audit log 625, and a client configuration interface 630. Additional or fewer components/modules/engines can be included in the HSM 600 and/or each illustrated component. Moreover, although illustrated as included as part of the HSM 600, the components/modules/engines can be physically and/or functionally distributed.

The key service interface 605 can be configured to communicate with components of the cloud-based platform such as, for example, the key service engine 500 of FIG. 5. Similarly, the enterprise monitor interface 630 can be configured to allow clients (e.g., enterprise client computers or devices) to monitor audit logs.

The key service interface 605 and/or the enterprise monitor interface 630 can be networking modules that enables the HSM 600 to mediate data in a network with entities that are external to HSM 600, through any known and/or convenient communications protocol supported by the host and the external entity. For example, the key service interface 605 and/or the enterprise monitor interface 630 can be a network interface that can include one or more of a network adaptor card, a wireless network interface card (e.g., SMS interface, WiFi interface, interfaces for various generations of mobile communication standards including but not limited to 1G, 2G, 3G, 3.5G, 4G, LTE, etc.), Bluetooth, a router, an access point, a wireless router, a switch, a multilayer switch, a protocol converter, a gateway, a bridge, bridge router, a hub, a digital media receiver, and/or a repeater.

As used herein, a “module,” “a manager,” a “handler,” a “detector,” an “interface,” or an “engine” includes a general purpose, dedicated or shared processor and, typically, firmware or software modules that are executed by the processor. Depending upon implementation-specific or other considerations, the module, manager, hander, or engine can be centralized or its functionality distributed. The module, manager, hander, or engine can include general or special purpose hardware, firmware, or software embodied in a computer-readable (storage) medium for execution by the processor. As used herein, a computer-readable medium or computer-readable storage medium is intended to include all mediums that are statutory (e.g., in the United States, under 35 U.S.C. 101), and to specifically exclude all mediums that are non-statutory in nature to the extent that the exclusion is necessary for a claim that includes the computer-readable (storage) medium to be valid. Known statutory computer-readable mediums include hardware (e.g., registers, random access memory (RAM), non-volatile (NV) storage, to name a few), but may or may not be limited to hardware.

One embodiment of the HSM 600 includes the key encryption/decryption engine 610 which can provide a second layer of encryption and decryption for an encryption key at a remote client device. During remote encryption requests, as described in FIG. 4A, the key encryption/decryption engine 610 encrypts a received once encrypted encryption key using a remote key encryption key. In one embodiment, the key encryption/decryption engine 610 can then provide the twice encrypted encryption key and/or the remote KEK to the key service engine of the cloud-based platform. During remote decryption request, as described in FIG. 4B, the key encryption/decryption engine 610 decrypts a twice encrypted encryption key using a remote key encryption key.

One embodiment of the HSM 600 includes kill circuitry 615 which can be set regardless of the pre-configured rules and reasons. The kill circuitry can include a programmable kill switch that, once set, rejects the remote key requests regardless of the pre-configured rules and the reasons. Additionally, the kill circuitry 615 can include functionality to destroy contents in the event that the system detects tampering with the HSM 600.

One embodiment of the HSM 600 includes a key store 615 and an audit log 620 configured to store keys and log audit information, respectively.

FIG. 7 depicts a data flow diagram 700 illustrating example process 700 for facilitating remote key management services in a collaborative cloud-based environment responsive to a content item upload request. Components of a cloud-based platform such as, for example, the cloud-based platform of FIGS. 4A-4C can, among other functions, perform the example process 700.

To begin, at process 710, the cloud-based platform receives a request for upload of a raw file (e.g., content or data item). The request for upload can be received from another machine internal to the collaborative cloud-based environment, a web application server, an external user (collaborator) machine, etc. In one embodiment, a content interface such as, for example, the content interface 412 of FIGS. 4A-4C can receive the request for upload at the cloud-based platform. At process 712, the cloud-based platform encrypts a raw file using an encryption key. In one embodiment, a content encryption/decryption engine such as, for example, the encryption/decryption engine 414 of FIGS. 4A-4C can encrypt the raw file.

At process 714, the cloud-based platform encrypts the encryption key using a local key encryption key (KEK). In one embodiment, a key service engine such as, for example, the key service engine 416 of FIGS. 4A-4C can encrypt the encryption key using the local KEK. The key service engine can select a local KEK randomly or in any other known manner.

At decision process 716, the cloud-based platform determines if the content (upload) request and/or the particular content item is associated with remote key management functionality. In one embodiment, a key service engine such as, for example, the key service engine 416 of FIGS. 4A-4C can make the remote key management determination. For example, each data item can be associated with an enterprise and the key service engine can identify the enterprise associated with the data item and determine if the enterprise has key management functionality. Alternatively or additionally, an enterprise or client can handle and/or otherwise manage keys on a case-by-case (or item-by-item) basis. That is, the key service engine can determine that the requested data item is associated with remote key management functionality.

If the content (upload) request and/or the particular content item is not associated with remote key management functionality then, at process 718, the cloud-based platform stores the encrypted content or data item and associated once encrypted encryption key and local KEK in a data store. However, if the content (upload) request and/or the particular content item is associated with remote key management functionality then, at process 720, the cloud-based platform identifies and/or otherwise determines audit log information associated with the request. For example, the audit log information can include metadata associated with the content request and a reason code associated with the content request. In one embodiment, a key service engine such as, for example, the key service engine 416 of FIGS. 4A-4C can identify the metadata associated with the content request and determine a reason and generate a corresponding reason code as described herein.

In one embodiment, identifying the metadata associated with the content request includes identifying and/or otherwise determining ancillary information associated with the content request. For example, the metadata can include, but is not limited to, an Internet Protocol (IP) address initiating the request, a user identifier (ID) associated with the request, a file identifier (ID) associated with the request, etc. Other metadata is also possible.

In one embodiment, determining the reason code includes first identifying a reason for the content request and subsequently generating a code associated with the reason. By way of example and not limitation, reasons can include: to fulfill an upload data item request, to fulfill a download or access data item request, to fulfill a maintenance request, to perform another action (e.g., to perform a text extraction request), to fulfill backend services, etc. Other reasons are also possible. Each reason can be coded with reason code.

At process 722, the cloud-based platform generates a remote key encryption request including at least some of the audit log information. At process 724, the cloud-based platform sends the remote key request to encrypt the encrypted encryption key to a hardware security module. As discussed herein the remote key request can include the encrypted encryption key (also referred to as the once encrypted encryption key herein), identified or generated metadata associated with the content request, and the generated reason code. A key service engine such as, for example, the key service engine 416 of FIGS. 4A-4C can initiate the remote key request.

At a decision process 726, the cloud-based platform may optionally check if the reason is ok. For example, the cloud-based platform can make the determination of whether the reason is acceptable. More specifically, a rules processing engine such as, for example, the rules processing engine 535 of FIG. 5 can make this determination. If the reason is not acceptable (i.e., the reason is rejected), then, at process 728, the cloud-based platform receives a rejection and, optionally at process 730, notifies the content request requestor (e.g., the system or user initiating the content request).

At process 732, the cloud-based platform receives a twice encrypted encryption key and a remote KEK and, at process 734, stores the encrypted file with the associated twice encrypted encryption key, the local KEK, and the remote KEK. Lastly, at process 736, the cloud-based platform optionally provides a confirmation response to the content item requestor. In one embodiment, the confirmation could occur at any time subsequent to the reception of the content request.

FIG. 8 depicts a data flow diagram 800 illustrating example process 800 for facilitating remote key management services in a collaborative cloud-based environment responsive to a content item access request. Components of a cloud-based platform such as, for example, the cloud-based platform of FIGS. 4A-4C can, among other functions, perform the example process 800.

To begin, at process 810, the cloud-based platform receives an access request to download a file (e.g., content or data item). The request for access can be received from another machine internal to the collaborative cloud-based environment, a web application server, an external user (collaborator) machine, etc. In one embodiment, a content interface such as, for example, the content interface 412 of FIGS. 4A-4C can receive the request for upload at the cloud-based platform.

At decision process 812, the cloud-based platform determines if the content (access) request and/or the particular content item is associated with remote key management functionality. In one embodiment, a key service engine such as, for example, the key service engine 416 of FIGS. 4A-4C can make the remote key management determination. For example, each data item can be associated with an enterprise and the key service engine can identify the enterprise associated with the data item and determine if the enterprise has key management functionality. Alternatively or additionally, an enterprise or client can handle and/or otherwise manage keys on a case-by-case (or item-by-item) basis. That is, the key service engine can determine that the requested data item is associated with remote key management functionality.

If the content (access) request and/or the particular content item is not associated with remote key management functionality then the process continues at process 832 below. However, if the content (access) request and/or the particular content item is associated with remote key management functionality then, at process 814, the cloud-based platform the cloud-based platform identifies and/or otherwise determines audit log information associated with the request. For example, the audit log information can include a reason code associated with the content request. In one embodiment, a key service engine such as, for example, the key service engine 416 of FIGS. 4A-4C can identify the metadata associated with the content request and determine a reason and generate a corresponding reason code as described herein.

In one embodiment, identifying the metadata associated with the content request includes identifying and/or otherwise determining ancillary information associated with the content request. For example, the metadata can include, but is not limited to, an Internet Protocol (IP) address initiating the request, a user identifier (ID) associated with the request, a file identifier (ID) associated with the request, etc. Other metadata is also possible.

In one embodiment, determining the reason code includes first identifying a reason for the content request and subsequently generating a code associated with the reason. By way of example and not limitation, reasons can include: to fulfill an upload data item request, to fulfill a download or access data item request, to fulfill a maintenance request, to perform another action (e.g., to perform a text extraction request), to fulfill backend services, etc. Other reasons are also possible. Each reason can be coded with reason code.

At process 818, the cloud-based platform accesses a twice encrypted encryption key, a local KEK, and a remote KEK from a data store. At process 820, the cloud-based platform generates a remote key request including the audit log information to decrypt the encrypted encryption key. As discussed herein the audit log information can include the twice encrypted encryption key, identified or generated metadata associated with the content request, the generated reason code, and the remote KEK. A key service engine such as, for example, the key service engine 416 of FIGS. 4A-4C can initiate the remote key request. At process 822, the cloud-based platform sends the key decryption request to a hardware security module (HSM).

At a decision process 824, the cloud-based platform may optionally check if the reason is ok. For example, the cloud-based platform can make the determination if the reason is acceptable. More specifically, a rules processing engine such as, for example, the rules processing engine 535 of FIG. 5 can make this determination. If the remote enterprise client system determines that the reason is not acceptable (i.e., the reason is rejected), then, at process 826, the cloud-based platform receives a rejection and, optionally at process 828, notifies the content request requestor (e.g., the system or user initiating the content request).

At process 830, the cloud-based platform receives a once encrypted encryption key and, at process 832, accesses the encrypted data item associated with the content request from the data store. In various embodiments, the cloud-based platform can also access a local KEK from the data store if the local KEK was not previously accessed at process 818.

At process 834, the cloud-based platform decrypts the encrypted data encryption key using the local KEK.

At process 836, the cloud-based platform decrypts the encrypted data item using the unencrypted encryption key. Lastly, the cloud-based platform provides the decrypted file content item requestor responsive to the content request.

FIG. 9 illustrates a diagrammatic representation of a machine in the example form of a computer system within which a set of instructions, for causing the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein, may be executed.

In alternative embodiments, the machine operates as a standalone device or may be connected (e.g., networked) to other machines. In a networked deployment, the machine may operate in the capacity of a server or a client machine in a client-server network environment, or as a peer machine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment.

The machine may be a server computer, a client computer, a personal computer (PC), a user device, a tablet PC, a laptop computer, a set-top box (STB), a personal digital assistant (PDA), a cellular telephone, an iPhone, an iPad, a Blackberry, a processor, a telephone, a web appliance, a network router, switch or bridge, a console, a hand-held console, a (hand-held) gaming device, a music player, any portable, mobile, hand-held device, or any machine capable of executing a set of instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine.

While the machine-readable medium or machine-readable storage medium is shown in an exemplary embodiment to be a single medium, the term “machine-readable medium” and “machine-readable storage medium” should be taken to include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralized or distributed database, and/or associated caches and servers) that store the one or more sets of instructions. The term “machine-readable medium” and “machine-readable storage medium” shall also be taken to include any medium that is capable of storing, encoding or carrying a set of instructions for execution by the machine and that cause the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologies of the presently disclosed technique and innovation.

In general, the routines executed to implement the embodiments of the disclosure, may be implemented as part of an operating system or a specific application, component, program, object, module or sequence of instructions referred to as “computer programs.” The computer programs typically comprise one or more instructions set at various times in various memory and storage devices in a computer, and that, when read and executed by one or more processing units or processors in a computer, cause the computer to perform operations to execute elements involving the various aspects of the disclosure.

Moreover, while embodiments have been described in the context of fully functioning computers and computer systems, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the various embodiments are capable of being distributed as a program product in a variety of forms, and that the disclosure applies equally regardless of the particular type of machine or computer-readable media used to actually effect the distribution.

Further examples of machine-readable storage media, machine-readable media, or computer-readable (storage) media include, but are not limited to, recordable type media such as volatile and non-volatile memory devices, floppy and other removable disks, hard disks, optical disks (e.g., Compact Disk Read-Only Memory (CD ROMS), Digital Versatile Disks, (DVDs), etc.), among others, and transmission type media such as digital and analog communication links.

The network interface device enables the machine 700 to mediate data in a network with an entity that is external to the host server, through any known and/or convenient communications protocol supported by the host and the external entity. The network interface device can include one or more of a network adaptor card, a wireless network interface card, a router, an access point, a wireless router, a switch, a multilayer switch, a protocol converter, a gateway, a bridge, bridge router, a hub, a digital media receiver, and/or a repeater.

The network interface device can include a firewall which can, in some embodiments, govern and/or manage permission to access/proxy data in a computer network, and track varying levels of trust between different machines and/or applications. The firewall can be any number of modules having any combination of hardware and/or software components able to enforce a predetermined set of access rights between a particular set of machines and applications, machines and machines, and/or applications and applications, for example, to regulate the flow of traffic and resource sharing between these varying entities. The firewall may additionally manage and/or have access to an access control list which details permissions including for example, the access and operation rights of an object by an individual, a machine, and/or an application, and the circumstances under which the permission rights stand.

Other network security functions can be performed or included in the functions of the firewall, can be, for example, but are not limited to, intrusion-prevention, intrusion detection, next-generation firewall, personal firewall, etc. without deviating from the novel art of this disclosure.

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words “comprise,” “comprising,” and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense, as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of “including, but not limited to.” As used herein, the terms “connected,” “coupled,” or any variant thereof, means any connection or coupling, either direct or indirect, between two or more elements; the coupling of connection between the elements can be physical, logical, or a combination thereof. Additionally, the words “herein,” “above,” “below,” and words of similar import, when used in this application, shall refer to this application as a whole and not to any particular portions of this application. Where the context permits, words in the above Detailed Description using the singular or plural number may also include the plural or singular number respectively. The word “or,” in reference to a list of two or more items, covers all of the following interpretations of the word: any of the items in the list, all of the items in the list, and any combination of the items in the list.

The above detailed description of embodiments of the disclosure is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the teachings to the precise form disclosed above. While specific embodiments of, and examples for, the disclosure are described above for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the disclosure, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize. For example, while processes or blocks are presented in a given order, alternative embodiments may perform routines having steps, or employ systems having blocks, in a different order, and some processes or blocks may be deleted, moved, added, subdivided, combined, and/or modified to provide alternative or subcombinations. Each of these processes or blocks may be implemented in a variety of different ways. Also, while processes or blocks are at times shown as being performed in series, these processes or blocks may instead be performed in parallel, or may be performed at different times. Further, any specific numbers noted herein are only examples: alternative implementations may employ differing values or ranges.

The teachings of the disclosure provided herein can be applied to other systems, not necessarily the system described above. The elements and acts of the various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments.

Any patents and applications and other references noted above, including any that may be listed in accompanying filing papers, are incorporated herein by reference. Aspects of the disclosure can be modified, if necessary, to employ the systems, functions, and concepts of the various references described above to provide yet further embodiments of the disclosure.

These and other changes can be made to the disclosure in light of the above Detailed Description. While the above description describes certain embodiments of the disclosure, and describes the best mode contemplated, no matter how detailed the above appears in text, the teachings can be practiced in many ways. Details of the system may vary considerably in its implementation details, while still being encompassed by the subject matter disclosed herein. As noted above, particular terminology used when describing certain features or aspects of the disclosure should not be taken to imply that the terminology is being redefined herein to be restricted to any specific characteristics, features, or aspects of the disclosure with which that terminology is associated. In general, the terms used in the following claims should not be construed to limit the disclosure to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification, unless the above Detailed Description section explicitly defines such terms. Accordingly, the actual scope of the disclosure encompasses not only the disclosed embodiments, but also all equivalent ways of practicing or implementing the disclosure under the claims.

While certain aspects of the disclosure are presented below in certain claim forms, the inventors contemplate the various aspects of the disclosure in any number of claim forms. For example, while only one aspect of the disclosure is recited as a means-plus-function claim under 35 U.S.C. § 112, ¶6, other aspects may likewise be embodied as a means-plus-function claim, or in other forms, such as being embodied in a computer-readable medium. (Any claims intended to be treated under 35 U.S.C. § 112, ¶6 will begin with the words “means for”.) Accordingly, the applicant reserves the right to add additional claims after filing the application to pursue such additional claim forms for other aspects of the disclosure. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: maintaining a collaborative cloud-based environment that hosts a shared workspace for two or more users to collaborate on a data item, wherein access to the data item is controlled via a client-configurable rule that determines whether to reject the access by determining whether to encrypt or decrypt an encrypted key of the data item based at least in part on a reason code determined from a request to access the data item if access inconsistencies are detected; receiving a content request for the data item from a user of the two or more users associated with the shared workspace, wherein the content request is associated with the reason code for accessing the data item by the user; determining that the data item corresponding to the content request is associated with remote key management functionality; initiating a key request to a hardware security module (HSM), the key request corresponding to a key that is at least encrypted twice, wherein an unencrypted key selected to encrypt the data item is encrypted a first time at the collaborative cloud-based environment to produce an encrypted key and the encrypted key while still encrypted is encrypted a second time at the HSM to produce the key that is encrypted at least twice, and wherein the key request is sent to the HSM based at least in part on the reason code associated to the content request; and monitoring access to the data item via the key request stored on the HSM by providing audit log information associated with the content request to a log monitoring system, wherein the audit log information includes the reason code enumerating a user behavior performed on the data item in the collaborative cloud-based environment.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the HSM stores the audit log information.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the HSM signs the audit log information with a secure key.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the audit log information is included in the key request.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the HSM is hosted by the collaborative cloud-based environment.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the HSM is hosted by a second collaborative cloud-based environment distinct from the collaborative cloud-based environment.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the HSM is hosted by a managed services provider.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the HSM provides access to the collaborative cloud-based environment.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the unencrypted key is encrypted with a local key encryption key by a key service engine and the encrypted key is encrypted with a remote encryption key by the HSM.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein another content request comprises an access request for the data item, wherein the access request comprises: determining, at the collaborative cloud-based environment, that the data item corresponding to the content request is associated with the remote key management functionality, retrieving, at the collaborative cloud-based environment, at least the key that is encrypted at least twice, initiating a secure key request with the HSM to decrypt the key that is encrypted at least twice, receiving, at the collaborative cloud-based environment, the encrypted key that was encrypted the first time from the HSM, decrypting the encrypted key using a local key encryption key used to encrypt the unencrypted key the first time, and decrypting the data item using the unencrypted key.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the two or more users collaborating on the data item from the shared workspace each have their own access rights to data items accessed within the shared workspace.
 12. A system comprising: one or more processors; and a memory unit having instructions stored thereon which, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the system to: maintain a collaborative cloud-based environment that hosts a shared workspace for two or more users to collaborate on a data item, wherein access to the data item is controlled via a client-configurable rule that determines whether to reject the access by determining whether to encrypt or decrypt an encrypted key of the data item based at least in part on a reason code determined from a request to access the data item if access inconsistencies are detected, receive a content request for the data item from a user of the two or more users associated with the shared workspace, wherein the content request is associated with the reason code for accessing the data item by the user, determine that the data item corresponding to the content request is associated with remote key management functionality, initiate a key request to a hardware security module (HSM), the key request corresponding to a key that is at least encrypted twice, wherein an unencrypted key selected to encrypt the data item is encrypted a first time at the collaborative cloud-based environment to produce an encrypted key and the encrypted key while still encrypted is encrypted a second time at the HSM to produce the key that is encrypted at least twice, and wherein the key request is sent to the HSM based at least in part on the reason code associated to the content request, and monitor access to the data item via the key request stored on the HSM by providing audit log information associated with the content request to a log monitoring system, wherein the audit log information includes the reason code enumerating a user behavior performed on the data item in the collaborative cloud-based environment.
 13. The system of claim 12, wherein the HSM stores the audit log information.
 14. The system of claim 13, wherein the HSM signs the audit log information with a secure key.
 15. The system of claim 12, wherein the HSM is hosted by the collaborative cloud-based environment.
 16. The system of claim 12, wherein the HSM is hosted by a second collaborative cloud-based environment distinct from the collaborative cloud-based environment.
 17. The system of claim 12, wherein the HSM is hosted by a managed services provider.
 18. The system of claim 12, wherein the HSM provides access to the collaborative cloud-based environment.
 19. The system of claim 12, wherein the unencrypted key is encrypted with a local key encryption key by a key service engine and the encrypted key is encrypted with a remote encryption key by the HSM.
 20. The system of claim 12, wherein another content request comprises an access request for the data item, wherein the access request comprises: determining, at the collaborative cloud-based environment, that the data item corresponding to the content request is associated with the remote key management functionality, retrieving, at the collaborative cloud-based environment, at least the key that is encrypted at least twice, initiating a secure key request with the HSM to decrypt the key that is encrypted at least twice, receiving, at the collaborative cloud-based environment, the encrypted key that was encrypted the first time from the HSM, decrypting the encrypted key using a local key encryption key used to encrypt the unencrypted key the first time, and decrypting the data item using the unencrypted key.
 21. The system of claim 12, wherein the two or more users collaborating on the data item from the shared workspace each have their own access rights to data items accessed within the shared workspace.
 22. A computer program product embodied in a non-transitory computer readable medium, the computer readable medium having stored thereon a sequence of instructions which, when executed by a processor causes the processor to execute a process, the process comprising: maintaining a collaborative cloud-based environment that hosts a shared workspace for two or more users to collaborate on a data item, wherein access to the data item is controlled via a client-configurable rule that determines whether to reject the access by determining whether to encrypt or decrypt an encrypted key of the data item based at least in part on a reason code determined from a request to access the data item if access inconsistencies are detected; receiving a content request for the data item from a user of the two or more users associated with the shared workspace, wherein the content request is associated with the reason code for accessing the data item by the user; determining that the data item corresponding to the content request is associated with remote key management functionality; initiating a key request to a hardware security module (HSM), the key request corresponding to a key that is at least encrypted twice, wherein an unencrypted key selected to encrypt the data item is encrypted a first time at the collaborative cloud-based environment to produce an encrypted key and the encrypted key while still encrypted is encrypted a second time at the HSM to produce the key that is encrypted at least twice, and wherein the key request is sent to the HSM based at least in part on the reason code associated to the content request; and monitoring access to the data item via the key request stored on the HSM by providing audit log information associated with the content request to a log monitoring system, wherein the audit log information includes the reason code enumerating a user behavior performed on the data item in the collaborative cloud-based environment.
 23. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein the HSM stores the audit log information.
 24. The computer program product of claim 23, wherein the HSM signs the audit log information with a secure key.
 25. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein the HSM is hosted by the collaborative cloud-based environment.
 26. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein the HSM is hosted by a second collaborative cloud-based environment distinct from the collaborative cloud-based environment.
 27. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein the HSM provides access to the collaborative cloud-based environment.
 28. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein the content request comprises an upload request and wherein the key request includes a request to encrypt an encrypted encryption key.
 29. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein another content request comprises an access request for the data item, wherein the access request comprises: determining, at the collaborative cloud-based environment, that the data item corresponding to the content request is associated with the remote key management functionality, retrieving, at the collaborative cloud-based environment, at least the key that is encrypted at least twice, initiating a secure key request with the HSM to decrypt the key that is encrypted at least twice, receiving, at the collaborative cloud-based environment, the encrypted key that was encrypted the first time from the HSM, decrypting the encrypted key using a local key encryption key used to encrypt the unencrypted key the first time, and decrypting the data item using the unencrypted key.
 30. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein the two or more users collaborating on the data item from the shared workspace each have their own access rights to data items accessed within the shared workspace. 